Okafor will get shots, but there is nothing on that team that can open the middle up for him. He'll be their only scorer, aside from maybe Gerald Wallace and Eddie House, and even then, Wallace will probably get most of his points from penetrating and cutting to the hole. He may struggle, but I still consider him a ROY candidate. Another is Ben Gordon. He's physically ready to play in the NBA, definitely, he has a 6'8 wingspan and is 200 pounds, and has anyone seen his arms? He's muscular, so if people think he will have a hard time defending guards, think again, because with the combination of strength and his long arms, he can hang with the best of them. He's athletic and has a great perimeter jumper. My Darkhorse for ROY: Rafael Araujo (if he starts)- At age 24 he's ready to contribute, and the with the Raptor's dire need of a size, i think what he brings to the table will really help out the Raptors, possibly even being one of the top rookies.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Ben Gordon was called the Wade of this draft in terms of how he plays, but I guess Snyder could be too.</div> I don't mean their play is similiar I mean the events leading to their rookie seasons. Both players led their college teams to great runs in the NCAAs, and neither of them got a lot of hype as the season was begining. Sorry for confusing you.
I think that Harris will win the ROY award. He has a great jumper and can spot up at any time. But the Mavs are loaded with talent already so he might not get much playing time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting s@bz:</div><div class="quote_post">A lot of you guys are saying Okafur because he is going to be the main option in Charlotte, I do not think that he will be rookie of the year for that reason. Teams will be developing gameplans to stop him. Plus Shaq is in his confrence now, and believe me, Emeka has never played a guy like that in college. My pick is either Ben Gordon or Andre Iguodala, both are solid slashing type scorers. My sleeper is Kirk Snyder, the Dwyane Wade of last year's draft!</div> So who else on the Bob Cats is going to score if Emeka Okafor doesn't? Ya Shaq is in his conference so what? He only has to play Shaq 4/82 times a year so I don't see the big shit about it really affecting ihs averages. I believe Kirk Snyder will take a year or 2 to actually "do" something in this league. Emeka will lead the team in scoring wheter or not other teams use their game plan to stop him. Gerald Wallace will also have the abilikty to score and could be a great future 1-2 punch duo.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post">So who else on the Bob Cats is going to score if Emeka Okafor doesn't? Ya Shaq is in his conference so what? He only has to play Shaq 4/82 times a year so I don't see the big shit about it really affecting ihs averages.</div> Im not saying Okafor won't put up good numbers, but he will not put up ROY numbers. First, he is not going to be used to playing agianst NBA centers. He didnt face a lot of guys who can body him up in the NCAA. Second, he is going to be doubled almost every time he will touch the ball. He has no proven scorers on his team. Look who other ROY Candidates are playing with. Andre Igudala-AI Dwight Howard-Steve Francis Rafael Araujo-VC Kirk Snyder-Kirilinko These three guys opponents top defenders on them, and coaches will not make up game plans to try and stop just them. My third reason which I did not say in my earlier post is that I don't know if Emeka will even make it through a full NBA schedule. He couldn't even make it through a college season healthy. And look at him in the Olympics he got injured in the first couple of weeks. Im not saying that he will get injured but he has a history of injuries. Who is Emeka playing with a unproven 9th man from the Kings. Yes, Gerald will be great in a year or two. That doesn't help him now.
Hmmm, tough one. No clear cut favorite like last year (Melo had a great year, but c'mon. we all knew Bron was winning it). s@bz makes a great point, but I agree with Ace2k2. teams will be scouting Okafor, but he is still going to get his shots. He will struggle at first with his height disadvantage, but he will eventually catch on. I think that with one year of experience, even though most of it was on the bench, Brandon Hunter will open up some space for him down low as well, which will help Okafor. He will also be solid defensively, but unfortunatly, it's a lot harder to win ROY with D. If not Okafor, I think it will be Al Jefferson. I'm a little biased being a C's fan, but I really think by All-star break, he will be starting and getting major minutes. He's not as raw as people think, he could be this year's Amare. Jammer Nelson and Tony Allen, while I don't think will win ROY, I think were the steals of the draft.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say either Arajou or Jefferson. It's gonna be a big man, but I think Okafor'll get hurt midway through the season.
My best bet would be a tight race between Iggy and Gordon here me out here before you say to yourself this is a bias post. Okafor proabbly wont be considered though he may have the stats the cats will probably not have over 25 wins since they are a expansion team how will he be able to win the award when his team in in the gutters of the nba a rookie of the year has to make a impact to help improve his team. Pau Gasol was the last player to win rookie of the year when his team didnt have a great regfular season, but they had a great second half and were not last in the nba though they had a bad start. Nelson though one of my faovrite players will not be in the running for rookie of the year though I hope I am wrong. He will not recieve the minutes he needs to be in the running for that award unless a injury happens. He will produce well and probably in double digits, but with the cast surrounding him minutes and shots will be few and far between. Gordon is going into a situation where he is going to be a starter and get a lot of minutes. This will probably be a good year for the bulls as many people are predicting they will make a playoff push do to all the talent they have. With players like curry and chandler having to perform well since its there contract year as well as deng and hinrich more than probably making a significant impact on the team. Hinrich was bulls player of the year last season yet he did not average over 15 points. Meaning if curry doesnt get in the way gordon can probably lead the team in scoring and mabye win player of the year. Then Iggy will get minutes in the sixers rotation because he is there first lottery pick in seven seasons so they wnat to use him as much as possible. As well as the trade of glenn robinson possibly happening any time he will be a starter before the trade deadline at the latest. Do to the inconsistancy of John Salmons and the fact that Korver is so one dementional. Then he will be in a offense that is using a run and gun thing with AI at the point so they will get out on the break alot so I think that one of them will win ROY.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">My best bet would be a tight race between Iggy and Gordon here me out here before you say to yourself this is a bias post. Okafor proabbly wont be considered though he may have the stats the cats will probably not have over 25 wins since they are a expansion team how will he be able to win the award when his team in in the gutters of the nba a rookie of the year has to make a impact to help improve his team. Pau Gasol was the last player to win rookie of the year when his team didnt have a great regfular season, but they had a great second half and were not last in the nba though they had a bad start..</div> Iggy and Gordan I think can make the All Rookie team, but I don't see Ben Gordan winnning it for some reason. Also a lot of poeple around here IMO overrate Ben Gordan. He was second to Emeka on his college team and I just can't see Ben doing it before Emeka. True that Emeka will not have over 25 wins, but it really doesn't matter. You mention Pau Gasol whose team had a horrible year and that was only a few years ago. PAu Gasol had good numbers and a horrible team. I can't see why Emeka could'nt have the same. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post"> Nelson though one of my faovrite players will not be in the running for rookie of the year though I hope I am wrong. He will not recieve the minutes he needs to be in the running for that award unless a injury happens. He will produce well and probably in double digits, but with the cast surrounding him minutes and shots will be few and far between..</div> Hmmm I think Nelson will be in the top 3 hor ROY voting. Nelson is NBA ready right now, but in the long run Jameer won't be as good as some other point guards like Shaun Livingston. I expect Jameer to be 2nd in ROY. HE was my favorite colege player after all, and I saw what he can do and will only improve on it. YA the thing is though that his cast will take up his spot light. Mostly that idiot Steve Francis. I think they should move Francis to the SG and put Jameer in at PG. Steve Francis is really a SG, buyt he wants to play PG because hes too scared to go against taller people. The thing is I think though STeve and JAmeer would make for the smallest back court curently in the NBA. I think it could work out though. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post"> Gordon is going into a situation where he is going to be a starter and get a lot of minutes. This will probably be a good year for the bulls as many people are predicting they will make a playoff push do to all the talent they have. With players like curry and chandler having to perform well since its there contract year as well as deng and hinrich more than probably making a significant impact on the team. Hinrich was bulls player of the year last season yet he did not average over 15 points. Meaning if curry doesnt get in the way gordon can probably lead the team in scoring and mabye win player of the year..</div> I think the bulls have too many stars who will clog up Gordans minutes and shots there for, he will get cheated out of his true potential along with Jameer Nelson. THe bulls will still suck this year too. They have a lot of talent. I highly doubt they'll be able to execute it though. Heres people who will take Bens shots. A line up of: C- Eddy Curry PF- Tyson Chandler SF-LUol Deng(peole over look him, Maybe its because his butt ugly :mrgreen: ) SG- Ben Gordan Pg Kirk Hynrich Now that is a line up where all thier guys want shots. Might not work out as nice as it looks. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting Pure Skillz:</div><div class="quote_post">Then Iggy will get minutes in the sixers rotation because he is there first lottery pick in seven seasons so they wnat to use him as much as possible. As well as the trade of glenn robinson possibly happening any time he will be a starter before the trade deadline at the latest. Do to the inconsistancy of John Salmons and the fact that Korver is so one dementional. Then he will be in a offense that is using a run and gun thing with AI at the point so they will get out on the break alot so I think that one of them will win ROY.</div> Iggy will get solid minutes with the 76ers, but he still won't get a starting role which I think will knock him out of ROY condierration even though he will still go on the 1st Team. Glenn Robinson wil get traded, but they probably will traded him for someone to replace him. Iggy wil be our 6th man probably. BTw, in the Sixer forum didn't you say John Salmons wass our 2nd guy to keep behind IVerson? But yeah John Salmons is vety inconsistent. And KK one dimensional too. Do you like got something you hate on Emeka or something because he is definetly the favorite for the award and you didn't even list him in your top 3.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Ace2k2:</div><div class="quote_post"> I think the bulls have too many stars who will clog up Gordans minutes and shots there for, he will get cheated out of his true potential along with Jameer Nelson. THe bulls will still suck this year too. They have a lot of talent. I highly doubt they'll be able to execute it though. Heres people who will take Bens shots. A line up of: C- Eddy Curry PF- Tyson Chandler SF-LUol Deng(peole over look him, Maybe its because his butt ugly :mrgreen: ) SG- Ben Gordan Pg Kirk Hynrich Now that is a line up where all thier guys want shots. Might not work out as nice as it looks. </div> We have no stars. We have talent. But our talent is never put to good use. Gordon will get ALL the shots he needs. We need a scorer. He is that scorer. You have to realize WE ARE NOT STACKED, WE HAVE ONE GUY ON OUR TEAM WHO CAN SCORE, and that is Ben Gordon. Curry's a fatass. Unless he drops his weight, he wont have the ability to play major minutes. Tyson's points are garbage points, putbacks, offensive rebounds that lead to a dunk, etc. He will take enough shots to score 13 ppg, no more, no less. Then it comes down to Kirk. He's not a scorer. He's a pass-first pointguard. He'll shoot a (somewhat) high percentage and score around 13-16 ppg, along with 6-8 assists. Luol Deng/Andres Nocioni seem like the only factor (other than an in shape Curry) to take ANY shots away from Gordon. But really, Gordon will be our 1st scoring option under most circumstances. And even with an in-shape Curry, that actually does us a favor and haves Ben score more because that relieves pressure off of him. I'm not saying he's a lock for ROY, but I'm saying that by a lot of people that he could very well be the Rookie of the Year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ObieCent:</div><div class="quote_post">We have no stars. We have talent. But our talent is never put to good use. Gordon will get ALL the shots he needs. We need a scorer. He is that scorer. You have to realize WE ARE NOT STACKED, WE HAVE ONE GUY ON OUR TEAM WHO CAN SCORE, and that is Ben Gordon. Curry's a fatass. Unless he drops his weight, he wont have the ability to play major minutes. Tyson's points are garbage points, putbacks, offensive rebounds that lead to a dunk, etc. He will take enough shots to score 13 ppg, no more, no less. Then it comes down to Kirk. He's not a scorer. He's a pass-first pointguard. He'll shoot a (somewhat) high percentage and score around 13-16 ppg, along with 6-8 assists. Luol Deng/Andres Nocioni seem like the only factor (other than an in shape Curry) to take ANY shots away from Gordon. But really, Gordon will be our 1st scoring option under most circumstances. And even with an in-shape Curry, that actually does us a favor and haves Ben score more because that relieves pressure off of him. I'm not saying he's a lock for ROY, but I'm saying that by a lot of people that he could very well be the Rookie of the Year.</div> YA they're not stars yet, but I'm sure Kirk Hynrich could become like Jason Kidd. Curry(if he loses weight) could be one of the bettere centers in our league. Tyson Chandler has a ton of potential ya know. He could be a premier power forward, hes only 21 after all. Injurys messed him up this year. He is capable of being a 15 and 7 player this year. Luol Deng is also a developing star too, and he wil get about equal shots as Ben GOrdan. Lets see the shots taken from Ben that I predict they will have. Eddy Curry- 16 PPG Tyson Chandler-15 PPG Kirk Hyrich-14 PPG Luol Deng-13 PPG I don't think a rookie with a fellow starting line-up of that can get enoguh shots, as I expect Ben to average about 16-17 PPG. Ben Gordan I think will be 2nd in ROY balloting, but I think Emeka has the slight edge. Emekas fellow starting line-up Gerald Wallace- 16 PPG Jason KAppono- 8 PPG Eddie House- 8 PPG Tamar Slay: 5 PPG I expect Emeka to average about 20 PPG or close to it with the supporting cast that he has. THe only one who takes away shots is Gerald Wallace and some what JAson Kappono. I'm not saying Ben Gordan has no chance to win it but its definetly more likely Emeka will win it. After all he did lead the Huskies to their title.
ha, Obiecent, I was gonna say araujo for jokes. I think he will make some waves and be better than everybody expected Araujo to be, but he still won't perform @ ROY level. I htink he will help the Raptors,and do what he was expected to do.' ROY is going to Okafor.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Eddy Curry- 16 PPG Tyson Chandler-15 PPG Kirk Hyrich-14 PPG Luol Deng-13 PPG </div> No, it'll probably look more like this: Curry 18 ppg(if he can drop the weight) Chandler 13 ppg Hinrich 15 ppg Deng 7 ppg (he most likely won't start) You have to remember, though, that the only one taking away shots from him there is Curry. Chandler gets alot of his buckets from offensive rebounds and putbacks, garbage points basically. Hinrich isn't gonna take shots away from him, he's going to give Ben more shots, Hinrich is a pass first pointguard. Now don't get me wrong, Emeka has a great chance at ROY, but you have to ask the question, what's gonna open the middle up for him? They have 2 outside shooters in Kapono in House, but that's it. Teams are going to have to stop 1 person--- Emeka Okafor, he's their only option on offense aside from Maybe Gerald Wallace, who may end up playing well for the 'Cats, but needs to work on his jumper. Having other players who can score on the Bulls is not a bad thing for Gordon, it helps the spacing on the floor, making him (as well as the team) better offensively. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">After all he did lead the Huskies to their title.</div> Even if that is the case, Emeka couldn't have done it without Gordon, and vice versa.
I'm going to be the first to bring up Nick Collison, out of Kansas (Sonics drafted him last year, but he had double shoulder surgery). For a PF, he's got a great shot...and if he gets to start and play decent minutes, it'll be nice. I don't know what the Sonics will do with Fortson though... Also, I'll say Okafor and Gordon are my other two picks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I'm going to be the first to bring up Nick Collison, out of Kansas (Sonics drafted him last year, but he had double shoulder surgery).</div> I don't think he will be eligible for ROY. His rookie year was last year.
My pic is probally Ben Gordon but the sleepers is Sasha Vujaic the 6-7 point guard the lakers drafted guard who looks nice and Kirk Snyder
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ObieCent:</div><div class="quote_post">No, it'll probably look more like this: Curry 18 ppg(if he can drop the weight) Chandler 13 ppg Hinrich 15 ppg Deng 7 ppg (he most likely won't start) </div> Pretty much what I said except for Deng. I thought Luol Deng would start, but I don't follow the Bulls really well. Then I guess Andre Niocini will be the one taking shots away from him. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting ObieCent:</div><div class="quote_post">You have to remember, though, that the only one taking away shots from him there is Curry. Chandler gets alot of his buckets from offensive rebounds and putbacks, garbage points basically. Hinrich isn't gonna take shots away from him, he's going to give Ben more shots, Hinrich is a pass first pointguard. Now don't get me wrong, Emeka has a great chance at ROY, but you have to ask the question, what's gonna open the middle up for him? They have 2 outside shooters in Kapono in House, but that's it. Teams are going to have to stop 1 person--- Emeka Okafor, he's their only option on offense aside from Maybe Gerald Wallace, who may end up playing well for the 'Cats, but needs to work on his jumper. Having other players who can score on the Bulls is not a bad thing for Gordon, it helps the spacing on the floor, making him (as well as the team) better offensively. </div> Cuury and Chandler are both going to take shots away from Ben. Im no Bulls expert, but I'm positive on that. Hinrich is going to taje way sohts from Ben too. I see it this way. Kirks FG% .386 ----I think he'll improve to somethinglike .413 so for 15 PPG he'll need to take about 20 shots, Of course he'll be giving Ben the ball to but he'll take it from him more. He doesn't just have to pass to BEn Gordan ya know. THe double teams may slow Okafor down but, I'm sure their coach will figure something out where Emeka will be able to get his shots off as well. HEs their number 1 option and I just cant see him failing.
